Boeing is preparing to build F-15 fighter planes for the U.S. Air Force at its St. Louis County plant even though the military branch hasn’t bought the jet in over a decade.
The Chicago-based company began ramping up its F-15 production line in St. Louis after the Air Force submitted a nearly $8 billion budget request that included eight F-15s next year and 72 in following years. The request was a surprise since the U.S. military has moved toward stealth fighters in recent years.
Boeing International Vice President Prat Kumar tells the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the company is investing before Congress approves the budget request so it can respond quickly should the Air Force seek rapid field deployment.
Foreign orders have kept the manufacturing line running in recent years.
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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com
